Buchanan K-1 ESL Department:
The English Second Language (ESL) department at Buchanan K-1 Center has been very busy the last few months. We just finished Access testing (an annual language proficiency test) of all the ESL students for kindergarten and first grade. The students have shown a lot of growth from the last time they took this test and we are very proud of them!
Kindergarten:
Kindergarten English Second Language (ESL) students have been working on listening when directions are given, speaking more frequently in their classrooms, and learning to read and write their letters and sounds. They have also been working on building their number sense in math. We are working in Language class on identifying objects in the classroom and at home, speaking in full sentences, and answering questions about their life. A few other topics students have covered during Language this year include: clothing, food, answering what they like or do not like, and parts of the body.
All kindergarten students participate in a Music and Me class, where language skills are developed through music. Students in Music and Me are learning about carnivals and will be able to identify the people and things that are found at a carnival by the end of the unit.
First Grade:
First grade English Second Language (ESL) has been focusing on further developing foundational skills such as: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Mrs. Fryberger uses explicit instruction in her approach for teaching foundational skills as they are presented in a very direct way. Students are given clear objectives and then a lot of practice to improve each new skill. Repeated review is a vital part of this process.
First grade ESL has also been working on word attack strategies in addition to building on their foundational skills. Reading is a skill that is essential for any students success. When they come to a word they are unsure of, students are taught to use picture clues. They try sounding words out loud to see if it makes sense. Students learn to look for word chunks and try blending sounds together. They also learn to re-read a sentence until it makes sense. Lastly, they are taught to read ahead and look for clues that may help determine unfamiliar words.
All first grade students participate in a language class each week focusing on higher order thinking skills, abstract thinking, components of the English language, and overall gaining a better understanding of the rules of our English language. We recently did a unit on mapping skills and had the opportunity to explore different areas of the world to see where our students came from. It was an exciting way for students to learn about other areas of the world.
As the end of the year approaches, students will continue to work on foundational skills as well as numerous other strategies used throughout the year to help reinforce new vocabulary such as the language of math, science, and social studies. Our ELLs have made significant progress this year and are encouraged to apply the language based skills out in the community and at home as well.
Finally, all ESL teachers in the district were offered the opportunity to take an online Spanish class through Cornerstones this quarter. All three Buchanan teachers and one other are taking the class. The class is helping us become more comfortable in understanding the language and fluent in speaking. It supports the students learning when we can help them build a connection to a new vocabulary word in their home language among other areas.
Submitted by Carrie Azure, Sabrena Brooks and Lacey Fryberger, Buchanan K-1 ESL Teachers
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